From Friendly Family Robots to Japanese Talking Toy Puppies

By: Tana Makmanee - Jul 31, 2014

Offering a high-tech alternative to traditional human interaction, these robot companions provide the allure of friendship in a more pre-programmed, digital manner.

While peer-to-peer interaction helps encourage socialization skills, particularly among youths, arranging time to meet and engage can often be a challenge. Turning to alternative sources of interaction, consumers are using robots as a form of companionship. Acting as pets and familial figures, these contemporary robots provide responses and engagements that are reminiscent of actual human contact. These forms of companionship provide individuals with a more reliable method of socialization, offering users interactive experiences without having to leave the comfort of their own house.

From digital iPhone dogs to confrontational cyborgs, these alternative forms of companionship reflect a growing desire for more automated forms of engagement.